Sun fails to shine on Chasetown FC in FA Trophy defeat at Redditch United

A victory over Chasetown FC was no more than Redditch United deserved on the balance of the two games as they made their way into the next round of the FA Trophy.

After the first fixture had been rained off in the latter stages with the hosts 2-1 up, this game was another close encounter – but the home side had two great goalscoring chances and took them both, while Chasetown’s two best efforts were a whisker wide.

If anyone shaded the first half it was probably The Scholars and in a half lacking goalmouth action it was they who came closest when Tesfa Robinson headed a Simon Brown corner wide of the upright.

The four days since the initial game gave double scorer Omari Sterling-James time to recover from the injury that forced him off on Saturday and maybe Chasetown’s hopes were lifted when he failed to emerge for the second half. Unfortunately though, his replacement Harvey Headley was straight in the action, netting two minutes after the restart.

The Scholars responded positively and Lee Butler volleyed narrowly over the bar from outside the box, quickly followed by half chances for Brown and Paul Sullivan which home keeper Sam Hornby dealt with comfortably.

Ashley Sammons scores Redditch’s second goal. Pic: Pamela Mullins

Butler, with a low drive which whizzed millimetres wide of the upright with Hornby stranded, and Sullivan with a header he perhaps should have hit the target with, were the differences between the finishing of the hosts and that of the visitors.

Thirteen minutes from time, a right wing move found its way into the path of Ashley Sammons and he picked his spot to fire beyond Ryan Price and end any realistic hope of a comeback from The Scholars.

Substitute Theo Robinson tested Hornby with a low shot from close range and Jack Farmer struck the crossbar with a speculative long range effort, but it was United who deservedly progressed to the next round, while Chasetown return to league action this weekend at home to Loughborough Dynamo.